This is a very full convention! These are a few of the highlight events that attendees will have the opportunity to participate in:

Trip to Belmont Shore Lines -Tuesday This is for the early arrivers- we will bus up from San Diego on the Party Bus (rail videos and beverages provided- bring your Own boisterous attitude). When the bus arrives at Fort MacArthur, we will depart and climb into the quaint World War 2 era barracks to see the famous Belmont Shore Lines layout. Once there, we will have the opportunity for visitors to run a train and take pictures of their train on the layout. During the course of the visit, BBQ will be served on the lawn next to the clubhouse. It will be staggered service, so that they layout will never stop. Once the run is completed, we will return to San Diego by luxury sleeper coach (well really, it'll be the reclined seats on the party bus, but there you go) Click here to visit the club website.
Micro Trains Line Welcome Reception - Wednesday The good people of Micro Trains are sponsoring this event which offers dessert and good fellowship for all who are attending. The convention leadership will introduce themselves, and information will flow. This is traditionally an event that is a lot of fun.
Layout - Thursday start Our layout will be a large one, with much to see, and many chances to operate. Module owners should contact the coordinators, as our space is large, and we want everyone who wants to display to have an opportunity to. So far, 10 clubs are committed to coming, and more are considering. This should be a great layout. There will be DC and DCC districts. There are special incentives for clubs and module owners. Please contact the organizers.
Live Auction- Thursday Now this is a party! For 12 years, the N Scale Collector has put on the liveliest and most hotly contested auctions in model railroading. Each attendee can enter two items in the auction, and it will go to when it is done. Bring your 'good stuff' and prepare to bid, sell, and have a good time.
Railroad Excursion - Thursday We will be taking a rail journey on the San Diego and Arizona Railroad, departing from the Pacific Southwest Railroad Museum, clear out of the country! That's right, we are traveling to Tecate, Mexico (no passport required, just having your driver's license will do) for lunch and a wander through this picturesque border town. For those who are interested, a Tecate brewery tour is available. While at the museum, be sure to view their collection, including the largest group of surviving MRS (Military Rail Switchers) in the country. (Destination subject to change due to Mother Nature or government intervention)
Swaparama - Friday The traditional Swaparama is where you get to spend one on one time with manufacturers, meet dealers you have spoken to on the web or phone, and never actually met. Or see that item you've been seeking for years. The tables are available to all, and manufacturers, dealers, and individuals fill the room with cool stuff. The action is fast and furious.
Contest - Friday start N Scale contests have always been cool. This one will be especially cool, as there will be the popular vote, and the judges choice awards. You will be able to bring your favorite models in such classes as locomotives, rolling stock, favorite train, module, structure, and more. In addition, we will have a couple of categories for N Scalers with a sense of humor, the Whimsy (where anything funny or goofy can be entered) and The Way It Should Be (where we see what your favorite fallen flag railroad would look like if it survived until today). Bring your models, and your voting hats. No pressure here, it's all for fun and the appreciation of great work.
Manufacturer's Discussion - Friday This event is where questions are asked and answers are given. Many times you've wondered why a product did or didn't get made. You will find the manufacturers represented are quite candid at this event. Product announcements are held for the breakfast on Sunday, but the nuts and bolts questions get discussed right here.
Friday Night Cruise and Midway Museum - duh Our big social event of the week starts with a harbor cruise of the lovely San Diego harbor. In this Navy town, there is much to see while the sun is still up. Since our cruise is a twilight cruise, we will see the lights of the skyline illuminate, a beautiful sight. We disembark the cruise, and and walk up to our casual dinner on the flight deck of the USS Midway, the famous air craft carrier that is now a museum. There will be time to stroll the hanger deck and see all of the planes and equipment on display. What a night!
Raffle - all week Throughout the week, you will have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets, and drawings will happen all week. The sooner you buy the better, but there are more and more prizes all weekend;. You can't lose, as the proceeds go to the volunteer organizations that put on the convention.
Narrow Gauge - all week We have invited the Nn3 group to bring their fantastic layout to the event, and hope that they will be able to make it. You have not seen or heard what can be done with N Scale until you see these modules and models. Sound systems, DCC, you name it, these jems have it. And detail? Wow, wait until you see!
Passenger Train Extravaganza - Saturday The layout will have a number of features, one of which will be a parade of name passenger trains. Are you a Super Chief fan? Bring it! Hiawatha? Bring it! Shasta Daylight? Bring it! 20th Century Limited? Bring it! We will be announcing the Cavalcade of trains to the entire audience for this amazing display of the golden age of railroading.. BRING YOUR PASSENGER TRAINS!!!
Public Show - Opens Saturday Since there is a tremendous amount of space, and a high level of desire, we are inviting the public to our party. Saturday Morning we open, and Sunday Afternoon we close. We can't tell you why until we get closer to the date, but suffice to say we expect a lot of guests. Vendors will be many, as will manufacturers. You will have the opportunity to see trains, to buy trains, and to talk trains. Kind of a nice day, no?
San Diego Model RR Museum - Saturday All day Saturday, shuttles will be running to and from Balboa Park, the home of the Model Railroad Museum, and the San Diego Society of N. This fabulous layout will be seen by many as the finest trackwork in a major display layout. Once you have visited the Museum and the SDSONS, you can get back on the shuttle and be dropped at the San Diego Zoo, or return to the Public Show. Click here to visit the museum's website. Click here to visit the SDSONS's website.
Convention Banquet- Saturday Night Right at the Convention Hotel is the gathering of celebration that is our tradition on Saturday Night. The night features some surprises from the sponsors and the results and riches of the world famous NSC Raffle. This is a not to be missed event!
Ntrak Breakfast- Sunday Morning Before you go to the layout Sunday for trains trains trains, swing by the traditional Ntrak breakfast for the latest in what's happening in the world of manufacturing N Scale items. All manufacturers are invited for what has become a roaring good time. Surprises guaranteed!
Clinics - Wednesday start At the 2005 NSC/NTRAK Convention in San Diego, the clinic schedule will feature some of the most talented N-Scalers sharing their experience and skills across a wide range of interests. Our clinic Chairpersons are Russ Kaufmann from the N Scale Architect and Kirk Reddie from N Scale Railroading Magazine. They have promised a tremendous schedule, and are trying to make sure there are little or no conflicts with other activities. Whenever possible these clinics will include hands-on activities and, as with the 2004 NSC/NTRAK Convention in Chantilly, there will be a number of extra fare Make 'N' Take clinics that will allow a modeler to create a treasure to take home ! As part of this Make 'N' Take program The N Scale Architect will developing a limited-run laser-cut structure kit available exclusively as part of this convention. Another Make and Take Activity will be by Jim Hinds of Richmond Controls. Watch this space for the announcement of the exact subject. Our tentative clinic topics will include the following: San Diego Area Railroad History Operations Running Trains/NTRAK & Layout Operations Weathering Techniques Scenery & Dioramas Rolling Stock Weathering Locomotive Detailing Rolling Stock & Locomotive Operation/Performance DCC Operations & Installation Structure Modeling & Construction Working with Resin Castings Etched Brass Construction Techniques N-Scale Collecting T-TRAK Module Construction N-Trak Module Construction Track Laying & Electrical Skills Intermodal Modeling Proper Eras for Rolling Stock and Locomotives Microtrains Coupler Basics Model/Prototype Photography Becoming an Author/Writing Articles for the Model RR Press Clinic scheduling and any applicable extra fare fees will be posted in the near future. More details on the limited edition laser-cut structure kit for the San Diego NSC/NTRAK Convention in will be announced in February 2005. Other Make 'N' Take offerings will be announced in this same time frame. Our clinics will be scheduled so that you will have every opportunity to attend, but they are limited in size, so get there early! Sign ups for the make and take clinics will be posted as soon as they are defined, and will be on a first come, first served basis.